Tips & Techniques

Buttonholes With the C Foot

The buttonhole foot has etched lines on the front of it. These lines are important so that every buttonhole will start at the same place.

From the spot where the needle penetrates the fabric to first line is 1/2", to the second line is 5/8" and to the last line is 3/4".

The average amount of space most patterns call for from the edge of the fabric to where the buttonhole starts would be the second line which is 5/8". But, it really is your choice as to how far from the edge you want the buttonhole to be.

Each time you start a buttonhole, make sure you place the correct line on the edge of the fabric to achieve the correct spacing.

The lines on the foot are useful to decide on the size of the buttonhole too. Put the foot down on the fabric, then turn the handwheel towards you so the needle moves towards the hole in the plate.

Place the button on top of the foot and against the needle and look to see what line the button comes closest to. Then you need a little extra for the thickness of the button. So, if the button came between the 2nd and 3rd line, choose the 3rd line.

This means that from the spot where the needle penetrates the fabric to start the buttonhole to THAT line is the length you need to make the left side of the buttonhole.

As you sew, the stitches come forward and when they reach that line, you touch the Reverse button so it will make the bartack and come down the right side.

When the right side stitches reaches the beginning stitches, (that line on the foot will once again be on the edge of the fabric), touch the Reverse button again and keep your foot on the pedal so the buttonhole will finish the bartack and stop sewing.

For vertical buttonholes, place the folded edge on the 5/8" mark on the stitch plate. Draw horizontal lines on the fabric to represent the beginning and end of the buttonhole. Start sewing at the bottom line.

Tip: If you pull the thread tail of the beginning stitches to the right, it will help you realize when the stitching is going to meet the left side.

Programming a buttonhole. Make the buttonhole the same way as described above and when the first buttonhole is finished, touch the "stop" button. This will put the buttonhole into a special memory to be used over and over.

Just move the fabric to the next spot and start sewing again and each buttonhole will be exactly the same. No need to touch reverse, the machine will remember. Keep your foot on the pedal until the stitching is complete.